Information for GP's and Psychologists

Peer Reviewed Clinical Trials for Nutritional and Herbal Medicines and Mental Health

Welcome, here you will find information for GP’s and Psychologists with links to the evidence for natural medicines and mental health. We look forward to collaborating with you in the mutual care of our patients.

Moods for Wellness is an accredited Naturopathy service. We encourage all patients to establish an integrative care team including General Practitioners in Sydney and Psychologists in Sydney and Telehealth services Australia wide. Please phone, email, fax or write to us with any questions you may have about joining our referral network.

*Please note information found on this page is intended for Sydney GP’s and Sydney Psychologists as well as other health practitioners and is not a substitute for individual health advice. Any prescriptions should be discussed with a qualified health practitioner. If any information found on this site raises questions or concerns contact your health provider. If you are experiencing a Mental Health crisis phone LifeLine on 13 11 14. In case of emergency contact 000.

This page will be updated regularly, check back for updates or subscribe to our mailing list for notifications.

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Information on the services we offer can be found here.

Hypericum perforatum (St Johns Wort)

Canenguez Benitez, J. S., Hernandez, T. E., Sundararajan, R., Sarwar, S., Arriaga, A. J., Khan, A. T., Matayoshi, A., Quintanilla, H. A., Kochhar, H., Alam, M., Mago, A., Hans, A., & Benitez, G. A. (2022). Advantages and Disadvantages of Using St. John’s Wort as a Treatment for Depression. Cureus, 14(9), e29468. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.29468

 Cui, Y. H., & Zheng, Y. (2016). A meta-analysis on the efficacy and safety of St John’s wort extract in depression therapy in comparison with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in adults. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment, 12, 1715–1723. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S106752

Crocus sativa (Saffron)

Lopresti, A. L., & Drummond, P. D. (2014). Saffron (Crocus sativus) for depression: a systematic review of clinical studies and examination of underlying antidepressant mechanisms of action. Human psychopharmacology, 29(6), 517–527. https://doi.org/10.1002/hup.2434

Dai, L., Chen, L., & Wang, W. (2020). Safety and Efficacy of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) for Treating Mild to Moderate Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. The Journal of nervous and mental disease, 208(4), 269–276. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0000000000001118
 
Vali Musazadeh, Meysam Zarezadeh, Amir Hossein Faghfouri, Majid Keramati, Zohreh Ghoreishi, Alireza Farnam,  Saffron, as an adjunct therapy, contributes to relieve depression symptoms: An umbrella meta-analysis, Pharmacological Research, Volume 175, 2022, 105963, ISSN 1043-6618, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105963. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043661821005478)

Rosmarinus officinalis

Nematolahi, P., Mehrabani, M., Karami-Mohajeri, S., & Dabaghzadeh, F. (2018). Effects of Rosmarinus officinalis L. on memory performance, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality in university students: A randomized clinical trial. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 30, 24–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2017.11.004
 
Azizi, S., Mohamadi, N., Sharififar, F., Dehghannoudeh, G., Jahanbakhsh, F., & Dabaghzadeh, F. (2022). Rosemary as an adjunctive treatment in patients with major depressive disorder: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 49, 101685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101685
 
Araki, R., Sasaki, K., Onda, H., Nakamura, S., Kassai, M., Kaneko, T., Isoda, H., & Hashimoto, K. (2020). Effects of Continuous Intake of Rosemary Extracts on Mental Health in Working Generation Healthy Japanese Men: Post-Hoc Testing of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients, 12(11), 3551. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12113551

Passiflora incarnata (Passionflower)

Janda, K., Wojtkowska, K., Jakubczyk, K., Antoniewicz, J., & Skonieczna-Żydecka, K. (2020). Passiflora incarnata in Neuropsychiatric Disorders-A Systematic Review. Nutrients, 12(12), 3894. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12123894

Piper methysticum (Kava Kava)

Kuchta, K., Hladikova, M., Thomsen, M., Nahrstedt, A., & Schmidt, M. (2021). Kava (Piper methysticum) Extract for the Treatment of Nervous Anxiety, Tension and Restlessness. Drug research, 71(2), 83–93. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1268-7135

Rhodiola rosea

Mao, J. J., Xie, S. X., Zee, J., Soeller, I., Li, Q. S., Rockwell, K., & Amsterdam, J. D. (2015). Rhodiola rosea versus sertraline for major depressive disorder: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology, 22(3), 394–399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2015.01.010
 

Darbinyan, V., Aslanyan, G., Amroyan, E., Gabrielyan, E., Malmström, C., & Panossian, A. (2007). Clinical trial of Rhodiola rosea L. extract SHR-5 in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Nordic journal of psychiatry, 61(5), 343–348. https://doi.org/10.1080/08039480701643290

Ross S. M. (2014). Rhodiola rosea (SHR-5), Part 2: A standardized extract of Rhodiola rosea is shown to be effective in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Holistic nursing practice, 28(3), 217–221. https://doi.org/10.1097/HNP.0000000000000030

Gao, L., Wu, C., Liao, Y., & Wang, J. (2020). Antidepressants effects of Rhodiola capsule combined with sertraline for major depressive disorder: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Journal of affective disorders, 265, 99–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.01.065
 
Cropley, M., Banks, A. P., & Boyle, J. (2015). The Effects of Rhodiola rosea L. Extract on Anxiety, Stress, Cognition and Other Mood Symptoms. Phytotherapy research : PTR, 29(12), 1934–1939. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5486
Olsson, E. M., von Schéele, B., & Panossian, A. G. (2009). A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of the standardised extract shr-5 of the roots of Rhodiola rosea in the treatment of subjects with stress-related fatigue. Planta medica, 75(2), 105–112. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0028-1088346

Withania somnifera (Winter Cherry, Ashwaganda)

Lopresti, A. L., Smith, S. J., Malvi, H., & Kodgule, R. (2019). An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Medicine, 98(37), e17186. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000017186
 
Speers, A. B., Cabey, K. A., Soumyanath, A., & Wright, K. M. (2021). Effects of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) on Stress and the Stress- Related Neuropsychiatric Disorders Anxiety, Depression, and Insomnia. Current neuropharmacology, 19(9), 1468–1495. https://doi.org/10.2174/1570159X19666210712151556

Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm)

Haybar, H., Javid, A. Z., Haghighizadeh, M. H., Valizadeh, E., Mohaghegh, S. M., & Mohammadzadeh, A. (2018). The effects of Melissa officinalis supplementation on depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disorder in patients with chronic stable angina. Clinical nutrition ESPEN, 26, 47–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnesp.2018.04.015
 
Araj-Khodaei, M., Noorbala, A. A., Yarani, R., Emadi, F., Emaratkar, E., Faghihzadeh, S., Parsian, Z., Alijaniha, F., Kamalinejad, M., & Naseri, M. (2020). A double-blind, randomized pilot study for comparison of Melissa officinalis L. and Lavandula angustifolia Mill. with Fluoxetine for the treatment of depression. BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 20(1), 207. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-03003-5
 
Watson, K., Hatcher, D., & Good, A. (2019). A randomised controlled trial of Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) and Lemon Balm (Melissa Officinalis) essential oils for the treatment of agitated behaviour in older people with and without dementia. Complementary therapies in medicine, 42, 366–373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2018.12.016
 
Safari, M., Asadi, A., Aryaeian, N., Huseini, H. F., Shidfar, F., Jazayeri, S., Malek, M., Hosseini, A. F., & Hamidi, Z. (2023). The effects of melissa officinalis on depression and anxiety in type 2 diabetes patients with depression: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial. BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 23(1), 140. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-023-03978-x

Matricaria recutita (Chamomile)

Amsterdam, J. D., Li, Y., Soeller, I., Rockwell, K., Mao, J. J., & Shults, J. (2009). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral Matricaria recutita (chamomile) extract therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of clinical psychopharmacology, 29(4), 378–382. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCP.0b013e3181ac935c

Amsterdam, J. D., Li, Q. S., Xie, S. X., & Mao, J. J. (2020). Putative Antidepressant Effect of Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) Oral Extract in Subjects with Comorbid Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 26(9), 813–819. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2019.0252
 
Amsterdam, J. D., Shults, J., Soeller, I., Mao, J. J., Rockwell, K., & Newberg, A. B. (2012). Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) may provide antidepressant activity in anxious, depressed humans: an exploratory study. Alternative therapies in health and medicine, 18(5), 44–49.

Curcuma longa

Sanmukhani, J., Satodia, V., Trivedi, J., Patel, T., Tiwari, D., Panchal, B., Goel, A., & Tripathi, C. B. (2014). Efficacy and safety of curcumin in major depressive disorder: a randomized controlled trial. Phytotherapy research : PTR, 28(4), 579–585. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5025
 
Wang, Z., Zhang, Q., Huang, H., & Liu, Z. (2021). The efficacy and acceptability of curcumin for the treatment of depression or depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of affective disorders, 282, 242–251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.12.158
 
Fusar-Poli, L., Vozza, L., Gabbiadini, A., Vanella, A., Concas, I., Tinacci, S., Petralia, A., Signorelli, M. S., & Aguglia, E. (2020). Curcumin for depression: a meta-analysis. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 60(15), 2643–2653. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2019.1653260
 
Matias, J. N., Achete, G., Campanari, G. S. D. S., Guiguer, É. L., Araújo, A. C., Buglio, D. S., & Barbalho, S. M. (2021). A systematic review of the antidepressant effects of curcumin: Beyond monoamines theory. The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 55(5), 451–462. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867421998795

Collaborative Care Considerations

Woroń, J., & Siwek, M. (2018). Unwanted effects of psychotropic drug interactions with medicinal products and diet supplements containing plant extracts. Niepożądane efekty interakcji leków psychotropowych z produktami leczniczymi i suplementami diety zawierającymi wyciągi roślinne. Psychiatria polska, 52(6), 983–996. https://doi.org/10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/80998

Izzo, A. A., & Ernst, E. (2009). Interactions between herbal medicines and prescribed drugs: an updated systematic review. Drugs, 69(13), 1777–1798. https://doi.org/10.2165/11317010-000000000-00000
 
Davies, J., & Read, J. (2019). A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects: Are guidelines evidence-based?. Addictive behaviors, 97, 111–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.08.027
 
 
 
Amie Steel, Janet Schloss, Matthew Leach, Jon Adams, The naturopathic profession in Australia: A secondary analysis of the Practitioner Research and Collaboration Initiative (PRACI), Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, Volume 40, 2020, 101220, ISSN 1744-3881, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101220. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1744388120304096)
 
Thomson-Casey, C., Adams, J. & McIntyre, E. Complementary medicine in psychology practice: an analysis of Australian psychology guidelines and a comparison with other psychology associations from English speaking countries. BMC Complement Med Ther 22, 171 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-022-03620-2
 

Moods For Wellness would like to acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land we work on, and show our respect to the Elders both past, present and future.